Hitching-post



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS W. OLINE, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

HlTCHlNG-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,818, dated March 6, 1894.

Application filed July 29, 1893- Serial No. 481,878. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS W. CLINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form partof this specification.

My invention relates to that class of hitching posts for hitching horses upon the street "in which the post is drawn upward from the ground for use, and which after use is caused to disappear so that no obstacle is presented upon the side walk, and its object is a new mechanism in such posts whereby the post proper upon a slight lift to start it automatically rises to position, and in position stands simple and durable and more fully protected against water and other causes of decay and breakage than are other posts of the class to which it belongs. I accomplish this object by the mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section view of my mechanism in place in a side walk with the post proper P partially elevated and on the line y y of Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a cross section view of the same on the line a; a; of Fig. 1.

All parts, except the rubber ring o are of metal, and may be made by casting or rolling as may be found cheapest and best in the manufacture of the severalparts.

The case 0 is a suitably sized tube or pipe vertically set below the sidewalk, its lower end closed, and its upper end at such point that the upper surface of the higher horizontal portion of the guide G placed thereon is on the plane of the side walk. Itsdiameter is such as to inclose the post guide G with the post P in its center, and also to give space for the free vertical movement of the weight W.

The post guide G, is placed within the top of the case 0 as indicated, to guide and brace the post P while supporting the pulleys P P is an open cylinder of suitable length, and of y a diameter to receive snugly but movably the post P said cylinder being integral with the post guide. It has at each end outward extend ing rims, the lower rim being of such breadth as to impinge the wall of the case 0, while the upper one overlaps the end of the case 0 with lug projecting a short distance down its side to prevent the entrance of water. At opposite points in the lower rim appear rectangular vertical apertures to give place for thepulleys P P, suitable sinks in the sides of the openings offering bearing-to their axes. If preferred these apertures may be omitted, the pulleys P P in that case being suspended by means of staples in the lower surface ofthe lower rim. Within the hollow of the guide G near the upper end appears an angular half round groove in which is placed the rubber ring 7* to prevent the entrance of water into the case 0. As it is evident that other devices may be used for the purpose of excluding water from passing between the post P and the post guide G. I do not confine myself to the rubberring '1' but illustrate it as a convenient means for the purpose.

Centrally in the bottom of the case 0,1 attach by means of a screw, a piece of flat spring metal presenting, to form the springs s 3, two upward projecting and curved parts concave to each other, oviforrn in side view, the upper ends not however meeting, and of such size, that when the post P descends theyenter its hollow and spring toward each other, thus holding the post against rising without assistance.

The weight W is a short open cylinder of such size and diameter that it snugly butmovably fits within the hollow of the case 0 leaving suitable space for the post P, and the ropes R R, in its movements upward and downward. At opposite and proper points on its upper end are presented staples for means of attaching the ends of the metal ropes R R thickness and of much greater diameter than the pipe, having centrally in its upper side, which near the edge is beveled or rounded, a counter-sink for holding a staple and ring, and on its lower side an annular threaded groove for a means of attachment to the end of the post, which is threaded for that purpose. Oppositely', at a suitable location in the lower portion of the post P, are placed in its outer side the check pins B B to prevent it from being pulled out of the casing by impingement with theloweredgeofthepostguideG. Oppositely, also, upon the outer side, near the lower end of the post P, for a means of attaching the ends of the ropes R. R, are placed two similar and headed screws, or if preferred a staple may be used. The length of the post P is such that when its lower end touches upon the bottom of the case 0 the part of the lower surface of the cap 0 that appears outside the circumt'erence of the post P rests upon the side walk.

The pulleys P P and the metal ropes or cords R R are the usual cord and pulley,

I placed and attached as alreadyindicated, and

The hitching post formed by the combination of the cylindrical case 0, open at the top, and closed at the bottom, upon which bottom appear centrally and within the case the upward projecting and inwardly curved springs s s,- the post guide G, having place in the upper portion of the case 0, and formed by an open cylinder having at each end outward extending rims respectively of such breadths that the periphery of the lower portion impinges the wall of the case 0, and the upper overlaps its upper end, the lower rim having means for holding the pulleys P P; the weight W fitting movably within the case 0, and having means in its upper edge to attach oppositely the ropes R R; the post proper P appearing within the other parts and formed of a pipe having attached to its upper end the cap a carrying a staple and ring,and provided in its lower portion with the check pins B B and also with means for attaching oppositely the ropes R R: the similar ropes R R each attached at one end to the weight Wand at the other, passing intermediately over the pulleys P P, to the lower portion of the post P; and the pulleys P P having place within or pendent from the post guide G; all substantially as described and for the purpose expressed. In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS w. oLINE.

Witnesses:

G. W. TUCKER, JAMES H. NUTT. 

